| Line 151: |
Line 151: |
| | Holocaust "1941-45: systematic, racist and brutal murder by German leaders of six million Jews during WW II" | | Holocaust "1941-45: systematic, racist and brutal murder by German leaders of six million Jews during WW II" |
| | | | |
| − | """Voice of America""" 1942: radio program to broadcast American message of freedom to Communist countries
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Manhattan Project "secret project to build atomic bomb based in Los Alamos, New Mexico"
| |
| − |
| |
| − | Harry S Truman "Dem. Pres. 1945-52, pushed civil rights, protected South Korea, fired Gen. MacArthur, seized steel mills"
| |
| | | | |
| | "Hiroshima, Nagasaki" "Aug. 6 & 9, 1945: first and second atom bombs dropped by US on these Japanese cities; Japan surrenders Aug. 15" | | "Hiroshima, Nagasaki" "Aug. 6 & 9, 1945: first and second atom bombs dropped by US on these Japanese cities; Japan surrenders Aug. 15" |
| Line 167: |
Line 162: |
| | Potsdam Conference July/Aug 1945: Truman replaced Roosevelt and little accomplished; demanded Japan's uncondit. surrender | | Potsdam Conference July/Aug 1945: Truman replaced Roosevelt and little accomplished; demanded Japan's uncondit. surrender |
| | | | |
| − | Some feared that Germany was developing an atomic bomb and so the United States government initiated the Manhattan Project to develop our own atomic bomb. As soon as it was tested and ready, President Truman ordered it to be dropped on Japanese cities in 1945. Japan then surrendered and our war with it was over. (Our war with Germany had already ended.) | + | Some, including a friend of Albert Einstein who persuaded him to write a letter, feared that Germany was developing an atomic bomb and so the United States government initiated the Manhattan Project that develop our own atomic bomb at a secret facility in Los Alamos, New Mexico. Top physicists participated in the project. As soon as the bomb was tested and ready, President Truman ordered it to be dropped on Japanese cities in 1945. Japan then surrendered and our war with it was over. (Our war with Germany had already ended.) |
| | | | |
| | As president, Truman was an impulsive and not very bright man. He still holds the record for the lowest approval rating (only 23% of the country approving of his performance) in his last year in office (1952). When there was an ugly strike against a steel company, he impulsively ordered a government takeover of the entire company (the Supreme Court later invalidated his action). When a reporter wrote a negative review about his daughter’s piano recital, Truman said he wanted to punch the reporter in the face for it. When General Douglas MacArthur wanted to be more aggressive in the Korean War, Truman simply fired him. Drop the atom bomb on Japan? Do it, Truman decided quickly, and later said he slept a good night’s sleep the night he decided. Truman’s impulsiveness may remind you of President Andrew Jackson. | | As president, Truman was an impulsive and not very bright man. He still holds the record for the lowest approval rating (only 23% of the country approving of his performance) in his last year in office (1952). When there was an ugly strike against a steel company, he impulsively ordered a government takeover of the entire company (the Supreme Court later invalidated his action). When a reporter wrote a negative review about his daughter’s piano recital, Truman said he wanted to punch the reporter in the face for it. When General Douglas MacArthur wanted to be more aggressive in the Korean War, Truman simply fired him. Drop the atom bomb on Japan? Do it, Truman decided quickly, and later said he slept a good night’s sleep the night he decided. Truman’s impulsiveness may remind you of President Andrew Jackson. |
| | | | |
| − | '''Debate: Was it right to drop the atom bomb on Japan?''' | + | '''Debate: Was it right to drop atomic bombs on Japan?''' |
| | | | |
| | == Immigration == | | == Immigration == |